Adapting the Bass Guitar for One-Handed Playing

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Abstract

This paper presents a prototype system for adapting the bass guitar for one-handed musicians. We discuss existing solutions to accessible musical instruments, followed by the results of an online survey of bass guitarists, which informed the design of a prototype bass guitar adaptation. The adaptation comprises a foot-operated MIDI controller with a solenoid-actuated fretting mechanism, providing access to six frets across two strings of the bass. A study involving six bassists rehearsing and writing a bass guitar accompaniment with the adapted bass highlighted unexpected facets of bass guitar playing, and provided insights into the design of future accessible string instruments.

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HARRISON, JTF; McPherson, AP

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This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Journal of New Music Research following peer review. The version of record is available http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09298215.2017.1340485